Polyethylene Glycol,Ester Surfactant In Textile,Wetting Agents In Textile,Lubricants Agents In Rubber NINGBO LUCKY CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CO. LTD , https://www.cnluckychemical.com
Elgin Fire Department news
Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
An investigation has revealed that an Elgin Fire Department lieutenant and two other firefighters were disciplined after it was discovered they took explicit photos and videos of themselves while on duty and shared them with each other. According to city officials, this misconduct led to a formal disciplinary action.
Lieutenant Amanda Bruce was demoted to firefighter, while firefighters John Sardina and Eric McMahon lost their special roles as driver and mechanic, respectively. These decisions were part of agreements reached between the employees, the International Association of Firefighters Local 439, and the city of Elgin. The details were obtained by the Daily Herald through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
Each of the three firefighters received a 20-day suspension, and the city reserves the right to terminate them if they engage in similar behavior within the next three years. The disciplinary actions were finalized on Tuesday, according to documents reviewed by the newspaper.
The investigation, which began in February 2015, found that Bruce and Sardina took sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves while on duty at Elgin fire stations. McMahon, meanwhile, took selfies that were also deemed inappropriate. All materials involved depicted the firefighters alone, but Sardina and McMahon sent their images to Bruce, and she sent hers to Sardina and an unnamed boyfriend. The content dates back to 2009 through 2013.
Fire Chief John Fahy stated that the employees fully admitted to their actions and expressed remorse for the misconduct that occurred during their shifts. He emphasized that the disciplinary measures were not influenced by the FOIA request, which had been submitted earlier that month.
“The settlement was already in the works,†Fahy explained. “We were in negotiations with the employees and working toward a resolution. The extension was simply to ensure we released all the information properly.â€
According to the investigative report, the materials included videos of Bruce in a fire station bathroom and photos of her in various states of undress. She claimed she took the photos and videos using her personal phone while on duty and sent them via her personal email.
Sardina’s photos were taken in fire station bathrooms, and one video showed him in his bunk. In one image, he is seen exiting a shower with a towel around his waist, which Bruce admitted to taking. McMahon’s selfies also included images taken in fire station bathrooms.
The incident came to light nearly two years ago when Battalion Chief Terrence Bruce reported to an assistant chief that his then-wife, Amanda, had engaged in inappropriate conduct with Sardina and McMahon. However, the city could not compel Terry Bruce to provide evidence, so the materials were returned to him.
Later, Amanda Bruce reported to Elgin police that her husband had accessed personal information, including the photos and videos. She filed a police report in October 2014, claiming that Terry Bruce had given the materials to an attorney involved in their divorce proceedings. The police obtained a copy of the materials and conducted a criminal investigation, which concluded in April 2015 with no charges being filed.
Following this, an administrative investigation was launched in May 2015 to determine whether the misconduct occurred during work hours. This process involved hiring a company to extract time and date stamps from the photos and videos and cross-referencing them with staffing records. Fahy noted that the city wanted to be thorough and ensure accuracy.
Initially, Fahy considered firing the three employees, but he ultimately decided against it. “They are good people with strong records,†he said. “This was a bad day, and I believe the disciplinary action is appropriate.â€
Thanks, Dan.